Hello, as the first chapter was just a prelude i decided to upload this at the same time, forgive me. I just hope this kinda clears everything up. ' Comments are much appreciated.
I also dont own PoT. If I owned it, why would I be writing this?
-Chapter One-
"Alright, its official, I'm bored." Came the sighed out remark from the red-headed Gakuto, sprawled up-side down over the couch. His hair was almost touching the ground as he stretched his legs up towards the ceiling.
The clock was still ticking merrily in the corner showing them that it was now six minutes to eight, when they would be summoned to attend their strange birthday party. Strange, because tonight was when they would chose their brides-to-be. All the women of the country would be at this party and they would wait for the time when the brothers would make their speech, hoping that they would be chosen by one of the handsome men. If the parents of the two didn't agree with the pairings then the boy would be forced to chose another suitor.
The clock chimed as another minute passed by. Gakuto sighed, each moment felt like an eternity. Choutarou smiled at his brother, he knew they were all restless. Soon enough their mother would come bustling and start straightening their clothes as she cried her eyes out at her babies leaving her forever, though they would all stay within the city and probably within the castle itself. This time it was Choutarou who sighed as he thought of giving up his happy little in the castle and being forced to live with his new wife. He liked the way things were a few years ago, when it felt like nothing could go wrong.
The clock chimed yet again and the door burst open, revealing their mother, in a lovely blue-green dress that accented her eyes. As expected, she started bustling around her children, fixing their hair and clothes. They had each been garbed in almost matching suits (complete with ruffles and neck ties) that were the exact color of their eyes. They had all complained about the color choices as Jiroh thought blue was kind of ugly, Gakuto never wore green as he claimed he felt like a plant when he did and Choutarou believed gray made him look rather pudgy. The complaints had gone unnoticed as it was tradition to match your outfits to your eye color. It had been rather amusing, their grandfather had told them, when their father had done it, as he had one blue eye and one brown. It had made a rather disgusting outfit.
The clock chimed eight-o-clock as they made their way down the halls to the main area where the party was being held, trumpets serenading them as they walked. They entered into a brightly lit hall, one they were very familiar with as this was where all their parents parties were held, and were nearly deafened with the sound of thousands of people clapping. They made their way to the stage, where they would make their speech and chose a girl to attempt to court the rest of the evening. They walked upon the stage, in age order, and stopped in the middle, before Jiroh, as the eldest was forced forward by his mother to start the true party.
He didn't seem at all nervous as he cleared his throat to begin his speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for attending our humble ball. Ten years ago these fine people, your king and queen and our beloved parents, saved us from a life on the streets. Now , thanks to them, we can have our own families. One day, hopefully far away, I will take the throne in my fathers stead and to tell you the truth I don't think I can rule this country nearly as well as my father has. I swear to try my hardest, however, and should I fail my brothers will undoubtedly help this country should any harm befall it."
Choutarou and Gakuto exchanged looks. It was odd for them to see their normally hyper brother, who hardly ever acted like the oldest, to be so serious.
"I assure you there is nothing we wouldn't give to protect this country from any and all dangers-"
Jiroh was cut off as clapping rang through the hall. People all over were turning to look and see who had interrupted their lords (kinda lame) speech. One child looked up to a corner in the ceiling where balconies ran along the entirety of the room and pointed towards a figure in the dark, his hands still moving up and as he clapped. One by one people turned to look and see who the mysterious man was.
The clapping died down as the man stepped out of the shadows to reveal himself. He was rather tall, and was wearing a light purple suit with a pink bow tie. His silvery-gray hair glittered in the light of the candles and Jiroh could've sworn he had cat ears and a tail, though the main portion of his body was still darkened and he convinced himself he was seeing things, people didn't have tails. The young man looked down on the crowd off people as if to make sure they were watching him before turning to stare Jiroh straight in the eyes.
"A rather lovely speech, milord. Though I doubt you mean any of it."
Jiroh, Gakuto and Choutarou bristled at his words. He was insulting their loyalty! Gakuto, ever the impulsive one, rushed to where Jiroh was standing and turned to face the intruder.
"Who asked you, bastard!?"
The man looked rather amused by Gakuto's outburst and turned his eyes from Jiroh to Gakuto.
"No one asked, but then, no ever does. Why should they question the words of their precious lords, rescued from the slums of their fair city to stand tall and proud among kings. You're a symbol to them all, just because you got lucky."
Choutarou could almost feel the anger and hate pouring off of Gakuto in waves and he stepped forward before his brother could say something to further them.
"Your opinion is valued, sir, as is everyone's, but I'm afraid it would be best if you kept it to yourself from now on."
The man now turned his eyes to Choutarou and stared at him for a few moments before answering, with no emotion visible on his face
"Your opinion is valued as well, though you might want to learn to keep your nose out of other peoples business. I'm talking to your brother now, wait your turn. And you might wish to wake your brother up, it's rather annoying to have someone staring at you as you talk."
Choutarou looked over to see that Jiroh had indeed frozen staring at the man's face. For a moment Choutarou wondered if he had fallen asleep like that again, as Jiroh was notorious for being able to sleep anywhere at anytime. He reached out a hand to shake him awake, but before he could Jiroh did it himself. Shaking his head he turned to look at Choutarou with a fear stricken appearance.
"I know who that man is, Choutarou. I saw him in one of Grandfather's books, the ones he forbade us from reading. That man is the Cheshire cat."
